Eli Lilly and Company
Rob Smith, 317-277-1302
www.lilly.com

Gerhard Mayr, executive vice president, pharmaceutical operations, has
announced that he will retire from Lilly March 1, 2004. According to
chairman, president and chief executive officer Sidney Taurel, Mayr
will leave as a legacy a world-class sales and marketing organization
that is prepared to deliver on the strongest, most innovative pipeline
in the pharmaceutical industry.

"I want to express my personal gratitude to Gerhard for his
significant contribution to Lilly during his 32 years with the
company," Taurel said. "Under Gerhard's leadership, we have
significantly grown our presence around the world, and we are now
positioned to compete with companies larger than Lilly. I wish him
great happiness in retirement."

Following Mayr's retirement, the pharmaceutical product and corporate
development organization, responsible for developing and registering
Lilly's products, and the pharmaceutical operations organization,
responsible for sales and marketing globally, will be consolidated.
The new organization will be led by John Lechleiter, Ph.D., currently
executive vice president, pharmaceutical products and corporate
development. Lechleiter will become executive vice president,
pharmaceutical operations. Lechleiter will continue to report to
Taurel and remain a member of the company's policy committee.

"Unifying our pharmaceutical product teams and geographic sales and
marketing affiliates under John's leadership will best enable us to
maximize the value of each and every product," Taurel said. "John
brings a wealth of experience and broad understanding of all aspects
of our business to his new role. He is one of those exceptional
leaders who truly exemplifies what Lilly stands for."

Lechleiter joined Lilly in 1979 as a senior organic chemist in process
research and development. Over 24 years, he's held numerous positions,
including director of pharmaceutical product development, Erl Wood
(United Kingdom); director, projects management; executive director of
pharmaceutical product development for Lilly Research Laboratories;
vice president, regulatory affairs; and vice president of development
and regulatory affairs.

He became senior vice president, pharmaceutical products, in 1998 and
assumed additional responsibilities, including business development
and corporate strategy, in 2001 when he was named executive vice
president, pharmaceutical products and corporate development.

Tallarigo, Santini promoted to policy committee; Tallarigo named
president, international operations

In related announcements, Lorenzo Tallarigo, M.D., currently
president, intercontinental operations, has been promoted to
president, international operations, to lead all international
affiliates. Tallarigo and Gino Santini, president, U.S. operations,
will become members of the company's policy committee.

Santini has been president of the U.S. affiliate since 1999. He joined
Lilly in 1983 as a financial analyst in Italy and later moved to sales
and marketing where he held numerous management positions. Before
assuming his current role, he had been general manager, Mexico; area
director, Latin America; vice president, corporate strategy and
business development; and president, women's health business unit.

Tallarigo, president of intercontinental operations since 1999, joined
Lilly in 1985 as a clinical research physician in Italy. He
subsequently held positions as associate medical director and clinical
research director before moving to the U.S. as director of
pharmaceutical products management. He returned to Italy in 1993 as
marketing director and had a number of other leadership assignments,
including general manager, Italy, and general manager, France.

Dunbar appointed president, intercontinental operations; Heim named
CIO

Roy Dunbar, currently chief information officer, has been appointed
president, intercontinental operations, responsible for Asia,
Africa/Middle East/Mexico, Brazil, and Andean/Central America. Dunbar
joined Lilly in 1990. He has held positions in sales, sales
management, marketing, and general management, including regional
business unit manager, United Kingdom; general manager, Venezuela; and
director, new product planning.

Mike Heim, currently chief technology officer, has been promoted to
chief information officer, succeeding Dunbar. Heim joined Lilly as a
systems analyst. His assignments have included positions in
information technology supporting nearly every aspect of the company's
business from R&D to manufacturing to sales and marketing. As chief
technology officer since 2002, he was responsible for the
implementation of the company's overall technology strategy.

Lilly, a leading innovation-driven corporation, is developing a
growing portfolio of first-in-class and best-in-class pharmaceutical
products by applying the latest research from its own worldwide
laboratories and from collaborations with eminent scientific
organizations. Headquartered in Indianapolis, Ind., Lilly provides
answers -- through medicines and information -- for some of the
world's most urgent medical needs. Additional information about Lilly
is available at www.lilly.com.